The History of the Most Noble Order of the Garter

by Elias Ashmole

G. Buckingham.

Hamilton.

W. Newcastle.

It was formerly the Practice, to send the Book of Statutes, under the common Seal of the Order, together with the Letters signifying an Election, and the Ensigns of the Order, no less to a Knight Subject than to a Stranger, that he might peruse and advise thereupon, whether he would accept of the Election, or not; for so it appears, Anno 4 Hen. VI. by the Letters sent to Sir John Falstoff.

Within a few Days after Prince Rupert was elected into this Order, (being then in Holland) a Commission of Legation was prepared to be sent thither, with the Garter and George, by Sir John Burrough, Kt. to perform the Investiture with them; but Sir John dying, prevented the Ceremony. Some time after the Prince had been in England, the then Sovereign thought fit to lay his Commands on Sir James Palmer, Chancellor of the Order, to attend his Highness, to declare the Reason why the said Commission was not sent and executed, as was designed, as well as to deliver him the Commission it self; to the intent (being prevented of receiving his Installation at Windsor, because that Castle continued in the Possession of the Rebels) it might remain with him as a Memorial of his Sovereign’s Princely Favour, and Respect to his Quality and Merits, and for a farther Evidence of his being admitted into this most Noble Order, since there was no other Memorial thereof, but the Minutes of his Election, and this Commission. And accordingly on Monday, the 14th of January, 1644. the Chancellor, accompanied with Dr. Christopher Wren, Register, and Sir Edward Walker, newly made Garter, attended the Prince at his Lodgings in Oxford; who, having notice of their Design, receiv’d them with all obliging Civility; and the Chancellor, in an eloquent Speech, made known to his Highness his Sovereign’s Commands, and the Intent of his coming; which was no sooner finished, but Sir James Palmer presented his Petition to the Prince, who gave his Majesty many humble Thanks for this gracious Message; and acknowledged his Majesty’s Favours beyond his Desert; but promised he would study to be more worthy by his Actions, than in return of Words; with many Thanks to the Chancellor, and other Officers of the Order, for their Trouble: Whereupon they took their Leave, and the Chancellor went immediately to his Majesty, and gave him a Narrative of what they had done.

§ V. It was an ancient Custom, and part of the Ceremony belonging to the Investiture with the Garter, to give him an Oath, whether he was a Stranger or a Subject-Knight, which we find styled, The Oath in such Cases accustomed to be taken; and which was to this effect; That the Knight should well and faithfully keep and observe, so far as God should enable him, all that was contained in the Statutes of the Order: But this of late hath been disused, and not imposed, unless upon foreign Princes.

It is observable, that Anno 4 Hen. VI. a particular Commission was issued, to the Earls of Warwick, Salisbury, and Suffolk, with Power, to any Two, or One of them, to receive this Oath from Sir John Falstoff, upon his Investiture; which was besides the Oath his Proctor was afterwards to take at the Installation, which Sir John empowered him to do on his behalf; which was, Such Oath as should be required at the time of Installation.

Altho’ we have fully treated of the Ceremony and Manner of investing a Knight elect, with the Garter and George, we shall subjoin Two or Three considerable Instances, as most proper to this Place.

When Philip, Prince of Spain, Anno 1 Mariæ, had these Ensigns of the Order sent him, the Sovereign joyn’d Garter King of Arms, with the Earl of Arundel, to perform the Investiture; who, upon notice of his arrival on the Coast of England, set forward on their Journey to Southampton; where, on Friday the 20th of July, they took Water, and meeting the Prince before he landed, entered his Barge, and gave him notice of his Election in a short Speech; which being ended, Garter having the Garter in his Hand, kissed it, and so presented it to the Earl, who forthwith fasten’d it about the Prince’s Leg; and after Garter had presented the Earl with the George, hanging at a Chain of Gold, he put it likewise about the Prince’s Neck. The Ceremony of Investiture being thus performed, the Prince came on shore at Southampton; and on the uppermost Stair were ready attending his landing, the Marquis of Winchester, Lord High Treasurer of England, with divers other Lords: The Prince gave the Lord Williams his White Staff, and made him Lord Chamberlain of his Houshould; and Sir Anthony Brown, Master of his Horse, presented him, from the Queen, a Horse with a Foot-cloth of Crimson Velvet, richly embroider’d with Gold and Pearls, having the Bridle and all other Furniture suitable, whereon he rode to the Cathedral, and after Prayers to the Lodging prepared for him.

Concerning the Garter’s Investiture of the Earl of Warwick, at Newhaven in France, the first of May, Anno 5 Eliz. is as follows: The Garter repairing first to the Earl’s Lodgings, put on his Mantle in the next Chamber to the Earl’s, and proceeded into the Earl’s Chamber; where, having made Three Reverences, he buckled the Garter about his left Leg, and after put on the George and the Ribband about his Neck; reading to the Earl the Words of the Signification, appointed to be pronounced at the Investiture; which being concluded, Garter retir’d into the Room where he had put on his Mantle, and there disrobed himself, and so the Ceremony ended.